Hollister, Calif- Central Coast firefighter staffing levels have returned to normal because of the reduced threat of the station fire down in Southern California. Returning crews are enjoying a brief rest but they're keeping an eye on what looms ahead this week.
Temperatures are expected to soar in the upcoming week and Cal Fire already responds to about four wildfires a day in the San Benito and Monterey County alone. So with the low humidity coming up this week firefighters are paying extra attention to these wild fires so they don't get out of hand.
When humidity is low, fires can start with just the smallest of sparks, "A cigarette tossed on the side of the road on a high humidity day probably won't start a fire, but on a lower humidity day, the higher the chances are that a cigarette could start a fire," said Battalion Chief Mike Marlow.
Even yard work could be dangerous when the winds are high and the temperatures spiking, "Mowing your lawn or mowing your weeds that little spark that are kind of normal coming off your lawn mower, could start a vegetation fire," said Marlow.
Cal Fire monitors the weather all over the Central Coasts from remote automated weather stations, "We print out the weather every morning, find out what the weather is going to be like for today and the next week to prepare ourselves mentally and physically, not just for the day for the week to come," said firefighter Aaron Smith.
Firefighters also get radio updates on fire conditions throughout their shift, "At least twice a day that information is broadcast over the radio to all the fire stations and all the personnel, and it gives statistics on the current humidly levels and rate of spread," said Marlow.
A red flag warning indicating the highest level of fire concern is likely for later this week. However, the recent large wild fires on the Central Coast started on days without red flag warnings.
